Germany has two Christmas holidays, Erster and Zweiter Weihnachtstag, but in 2026 the second one falls on a Saturday. Christmas Day is a Friday and New Year's Day a Friday, so the days between them are the ones to book. For many people they are also the last chance to use the year's leave.
Book off: Mon 28, Tue 29, Wed 30 and Thu 31 Dec 2026.
Bank holidayBook offWeekend
Every option, from 1 to 8 Urlaubstage
| Days of leave | Days off in a row | Dates | Book off |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | Thu 24 Dec – Sun 27 Dec 2026 | Thu 24 Dec 2026 |
| 2 | 5 | Wed 23 Dec – Sun 27 Dec 2026 | Wed 23 and Thu 24 Dec 2026 |
| 3 | 6 | Tue 22 Dec – Sun 27 Dec 2026 | Tue 22, Wed 23 and Thu 24 Dec 2026 |
| 4 | 10 | Fri 25 Dec 2026 – Sun 3 Jan 2027 | Mon 28, Tue 29, Wed 30 and Thu 31 Dec 2026 |
| 5 | 11 | Thu 24 Dec 2026 – Sun 3 Jan 2027 | Thu 24, Mon 28, Tue 29, Wed 30 and Thu 31 Dec 2026 |
| 6 | 12 | Wed 23 Dec 2026 – Sun 3 Jan 2027 | Wed 23, Thu 24, Mon 28, Tue 29, Wed 30 and Thu 31 Dec 2026 |
| 7 | 13 | Tue 22 Dec 2026 – Sun 3 Jan 2027 | Tue 22, Wed 23, Thu 24, Mon 28, Tue 29, Wed 30 and Thu 31 Dec 2026 |
| 8 | 16 | Sat 19 Dec 2026 – Sun 3 Jan 2027 | Mon 21, Tue 22, Wed 23, Thu 24, Mon 28, Tue 29, Wed 30 and Thu 31 Dec 2026 |
Germany, Christmas 2026 and New Year 2027.
With more leave, book 8 days off (Mon 21, Tue 22, Wed 23, Thu 24, Mon 28, Tue 29, Wed 30 and Thu 31 Dec 2026) and get 16 days off in a row (Sat 19 Dec 2026 – Sun 3 Jan 2027). The Christmas dates are the same in every state; Epiphany on Wednesday 6 January 2027 adds a bridge in early January in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria and Saxony-Anhalt.
Heiligabend and Silvester
Neither day is a public holiday. Many companies close early, give a half day, or give both days off under a collective agreement or company practice. Each day you get off saves a full Urlaubstag from the table above, so check your contract or works agreement first.
Resturlaub: use it or lose it
Leave must be taken in the calendar year. It only carries over if urgent business or personal reasons stopped you taking it, and then it must be used in the first three months of the next year (§ 7 BUrlG). Courts have ruled that your employer must also warn you in good time about leave that is about to expire. If you still have days left for 2026, the week between Christmas and New Year is the easiest place to use them.
Some employers close between the years (Betriebsferien) and ask staff to use leave for it. Where there is a works council, it has a say in this.
Christmas 2027: a look ahead
In 2027, both Christmas days fall on a weekend. German law does not move holidays to a weekday, so the break costs more leave:
| Days of leave | Days off in a row | Dates | Book off |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | Fri 17 Dec – Sun 19 Dec 2027 | Fri 17 Dec 2027 |
| 2 | 4 | Thu 16 Dec – Sun 19 Dec 2027 | Thu 16 and Fri 17 Dec 2027 |
| 3 | 5 | Wed 15 Dec – Sun 19 Dec 2027 | Wed 15, Thu 16 and Fri 17 Dec 2027 |
| 4 | 6 | Wed 15 Dec – Mon 20 Dec 2027 | Wed 15, Thu 16, Fri 17 and Mon 20 Dec 2027 |
| 5 | 9 | Sat 18 Dec – Sun 26 Dec 2027 | Mon 20, Tue 21, Wed 22, Thu 23 and Fri 24 Dec 2027 |
| 6 | 10 | Fri 17 Dec – Sun 26 Dec 2027 | Fri 17, Mon 20, Tue 21, Wed 22, Thu 23 and Fri 24 Dec 2027 |
| 7 | 11 | Thu 16 Dec – Sun 26 Dec 2027 | Thu 16, Fri 17, Mon 20, Tue 21, Wed 22, Thu 23 and Fri 24 Dec 2027 |
| 8 | 12 | Wed 15 Dec – Sun 26 Dec 2027 | Wed 15, Thu 16, Fri 17, Mon 20, Tue 21, Wed 22, Thu 23 and Fri 24 Dec 2027 |
Germany, Christmas 2027 and New Year 2028.
Frequently asked questions
How many Urlaubstage do I need for Christmas 2026?
The best value is to book 4 days off (Mon 28, Tue 29, Wed 30 and Thu 31 Dec 2026) and get 10 days off in a row.
Is 24 December a holiday in Germany?
No. Heiligabend is a normal workday by law, although shops close at lunchtime and many employers give the afternoon or the whole day off.
Do I lose leave I have not taken by 31 December?
Usually, unless you could not take it for urgent reasons, or your employer did not warn you that it would expire. Carried-over leave must normally be used by 31 March 2027.
Open the Germany plannerBridge days 2026 (Brückentage): best days to take off (Germany)
How we work it out. Every date and number here comes from our holiday data, checked against official government sources (see About). Always confirm days off with your employer.